In a recent interview promoting his new film, People Like Us, Star Trek 2 writer Alex Kurtzman spoke about the villain portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch. Kurtzman was wildly effusive about Cumberbatch’s portrayal of the mysterious baddie:

“He’s a genius…There are certain actors who have the ability to take a line of dialogue and add a ring to it that you didn’t even know you put into the dialogue, into the line. And he’s one of those really brilliant actors. Just listening to him talk…you could enjoy him reading the phone book.”

Moreover, Kurtzman described the role the villain will play in the upcoming film, and how the nature of the sequel defines the characterization and actions of the villain:

“Sequels are about your bad guy. Because your first movie is always about the becoming of [the hero] and your bad guy has to test that hero in a very significant way. And he’s an incredibly formidable presence. He’s amazing. Are you going to be scared of him? Shit yeah!”

So there you have it. Still not a confirmation or denial that Khan, Captain Kirk’s genetically engineered arch-nemesis, will be the Heavy in Star Trek 2. But still, as long as it isn’t Eric Bana’s inexplicable villain from Star Trek (Spock tried to help save his planet but just wasn’t fast enough, so Bana blows up Spock’s own entire homeworld?), whomever Cumberbatch is playing should be fine.